Trap-gun.



C. D.V LOVELAGE.

TRAP GUN.

APPLICATION IILBD rBB.15.1909.

Patented N0v.15,191o.

. A ...sii A being intended I FI@ CHARLES D. LOVELACE, 0F SAN ANGELO,TEXAS.

TRAP- GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentednov. 15, 1ero.

Application filed February 15, 1909. Serial No. 478,089.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. LovELAcE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in San Angelo, in the county of Tom Green and Stateof Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTrap-Guns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification. Y

My invention relates to a trap gun designed to be supported in a setposition at an elevation above the ground and having a trigger operatingmember to which bait may be applied, the set trigger operating member tobe operated by an animal in an effort to secure the bait thereon,whereby the gun is fired and a charge from the gun is delivered into theanimal to kill it.

The main objects in the present improvement are to provide in a gun ofthe character named a single piece receiver that serves to fully protectthe firing mechanism therein from the elements; a longitudinally movablehammer loosely supported in the receiver and so constructed as to besusceptible of being engaged by the trigger of the gun irrespective ofrotation of the hammer; adjustable means against which the triggercontrolling spring rests whereby the trigger may be maintained more orless-firmly in engagement with the hammer; and a slidable hammer settingrod movable longitudinally in the receiver and also in the hammerwhenthe hammer is set, whereby said rod may be moved to an innerposition after the hammer has been set to avoid unnecessary projectionof the hammer rod at such time and obviate the exposure thereof to theelements.

Figure I is a longitudinal section of my trap gun. Fig. II is averticalcross section taken on the line II-IL Fig. I. Fig. III is inpart an elevation and in part a longitudinal section of the hammer andhammer setting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings 1 designates the barrel of my trap gun tothe muzzle of which is attached a guide member 2 having a plurality ofperforations 3 in any of which the bait rod 4 is operable. The bait rodis provided at its forward end with a hook 5 and extends approximatelyparallel with the barrel above it.

6 designates a post adapted to be set into the ground at the pointatwhich the gun is to be used and which has rotatably fitted to its upperend a swivel fork 7 that serves as a support for the receiver-of the gunwhich is hinged thereto at 7a.

8 designates the receiver to the forward end of which the barrel 1 ispivoted at 9, (see Fig. I.) The barrel is held in a closed position bysuitable means, such as shown in the drawings, and for which noinvention is herein claimed. The receiver 8 is closed made in a singlepiece and is provided with a chamber 10 in which the hammer andlockmechanism of the gun are operable. The rear end of the receiver isclosed by a hollow plug 1l that also serves as a guide for a part to behereinafter more particularly named.

12 designates a cylindrical and hollow hammer that is movablelongitudinally of the receiver in its chamber 10. The hammer is providedintermediate of its ends with an exterior annular groove 13 having arear shoulder 14, and the cavity within the hammer is closed at the rearend of the hammer by a bushing 15. g

16 designates a hammer cooking or setting rod provided at its outer endwith a knob 17 and operable in the plug 11 at the rear end of thereceiver 8. ThisA cooking rod extends through the bushing 15 in the rearend of the hammer 12 and is provided within said hammer with a head 18that engages the inner end of said bushing when the cocking rod is drawnrearwardly and whereby the hammer is retracted against the action of theimpelling spring 19 surrounding the cooking rod and interposed betweenthe hammer and the plug 11. The forward end of the hammer is presentedtoward the head 20 of a firing pin 21 that is operable in the breechhead of the receiver 8.

22 designates a trigger to which the pull rod 4 is pivoted at 28 andwhich is pivoted at 24 to the receiver at its lower side so as to beoperable in said receiver. The trigger is provided at its upper end witha sear 25 that is adapted to engage the shoulder 14 at the back of theannular groove 13 in the hammer 12 when said hammer is retracted.

26 is a trigger controlling coil spring located beneath t-he sear of thetrigger and interposed between said Sear and an linclined adjustingscrew 27 mounted in the bottom of the receiver 8. The controlling spring26 is intended to hold the sear of the trigger in position in theannular groove in the hammer and by providing the adjusting screwagainst which this spring rests, I am enabled to alter the tension insaid spring in order that it will act more or less forcibly upon thesear to maintain it in engagement with the hammer. This is desirableinasmuch as it provides for the spring being held under such tension asto necessitate a strong pull upon the trigger when it is desired thatthe trap gun be fired by a large animal, or to permit of the triggerbeing actuated at the will of the user of the gun by an animal havingless strength than a large animal for which the trap gun would be set atanother time.

When my trap gun is to be set ready to be discharged by an animalattempting to secure a bait placed upon the hook of the bait rod 4f, acartridge is placed in the barrel of the gun and the hammer is set orcocked by drawing rearwardly upon the cooking rod 16 so that the hammeris retracted to the position illustrated in Fig. I and engaged by thesear of the trigger Ilich serves to maintain it in its retractedposition pending a pull upon the bait rod. In cocking the hammer, thecocking rod is drawn outwardly so that it projects beyond the rear endof the receiver, as will be obvious, but inasmuch as the head 18 of thiscocking rod is slidably fitted in the hammer, and the rod passes looselythrough the rear end of the hammer, said rod is readily returned to theposition shown in Fig. I, in order that only its knob or handle willextend beyond the receiver and be exposed, and that it may not check themovement of the hammer should it become stuck or warped by weatherconditions. The purpose of loosely fitting the cocking rod in the hollowhammer is to permit free movement thereof independently of said hollowhammer. If it were a tight fit, the cocking rod could not be movedforwardly after the gun had been cocked to the abnormal position shownin Fig. I.

28 designates a shell ejector, which is slidably mounted in an openingformed through the barrel extension 1a, its outer end being designed tobear against the element 29 located at the forward end of the saidbarrel extension when the gun is broken for the extraction of theexploded shell and replacement of a loaded shell.

30 designates a screw designed to limit the outer movement of the shellejector when the gun is broken.

I claim 1. In a trap gun, the combination of a receiver, a springactuated hammer in said receiver, a trigger having a sear for engagementwith said hammer, a trigger controlling coil spring bearing against thesear and an inclined adjusting screw mounted in said receiver andbearing against the coil spring and by which the tension in saidcontrolling spring may be varied.

2. A trap gun comprising a receiver, a hollow plug closing the rear endof the receiver, a hollow cylindrical hammer having an exterior annulargroove providing an annular shoulder and a bushing and free to rotate inthe chamber of the receiver, a cocking rod extending through the hollowplug and through the bushing and having a head sliding within thehammer, a spring surrounding the cocking rod between the hollow plug andthe hollow hammer, and a trigger pivoted to the receiver and having asear adapted to engage the annular shoulder of the hollow hammer.

3. A trap gun comprising a receiver, a hollow plug, closing the rear endof the receiver, a hollow cylindrical hammer having an exterior annulargroove providing an annular shoulder and a bushing and free to rotate inthe chamber of the receiver, a cocking rod, extending through the hollowplug and through the bushing and having a head sliding within thehammer, a spring surrounding the cocking rod between the hollow plug andthe hollow hammer, a trigger pivoted to the receiver and having a searadapted to engage the annular shoulder of the hollow hammer, an inclinedadjusting screw and a trigger controlling spring located between theadjusting screw and the sear of the trigger.

CHARLES D. LovELAoE.

In the presence of- E. J. MoCRossiN, JN0. W. STAGG.

